More details on fatal crash that killed 2 Santa Fe College students

Published: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 6:56 p.m.

Kyle Van Wagner and Brandon Cordwin came from two different families, but they could have been twins.

They graduated from North Marion High School in June with honors. They enjoyed mud bogging and saltwater fishing together. They worked hard at their fathers’ businesses and played even harder.

Now their families and a tight-knit community are mourning and trying to figure out what led to the police pursuit and crash that killed these inseparable friends early Sunday.

James Van Wagner of Sparr said that although he lost his son, his unwavering faith makes the pain bearable.

“Our faith and love of God is not even in doubt,” he said during an interview Monday. “We know exactly where he’s at and that’s how we’re going to survive this.”

The two young men, who were students at Santa Fe College, spent Saturday together mud bogging in Palatka with family and friends. As the night wore on, they turned on the University of Florida football game. Both men were Gator fans who hoped to transfer to UF after two years.

It’s not clear when Van Wagner and Cordwin returned to Marion County, but sheriff’s Deputy Jared Shealy said at around 1 a.m., another deputy called him to report a Camaro driving recklessly on Jacksonville Road.

According to Shealy’s report and a review of his patrol car’s dashboard camera, here’s what happened next:

Shealy saw Van Wagner’s black Camaro pull up next to a silver Camaro at Northeast 140th Street and Jacksonville Road.

The dashboard camera video shows the deputy turning around to stop Van Wagner’s Camaro, which was just in front of the deputy’s patrol car. Van Wagner then backed up and drove away.

The deputy followed at a distance and the car turned left onto CR 329, running a stop sign in the process.

After crossing railroad tracks near North Marion High, Van Wagner’s car traveled out of the camera’s sight. Seconds later, the deputy came across two vehicles pulled to the roadside. The deputy spotted a tire rolling across the highway and turned around.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, Van Wagner lost control as he approached those two vehicles, then veered onto the south grass shoulder, where the car crashed into a pole and trees and overturned.

Neither man was wearing a seatbelt. Both were ejected from the car. Van Wagner was found on the south shoulder of the highway and Cordwin was found in nearby woods.

Dana Van Wagner, a cousin, said a law officer at the scene told the family that the deputy first noticed the Camaro because it was doing “donuts.” Neither the patrol nor the Sheriff’s Office could confirm that.

James Van Wagner said both were good boys. The only ticket Kyle Van Wagner received was for scallop diving without a dive flag.

“I honestly think in his 18 years, he taught more to me than I taught to him,” he said. “I am forever changed by his presence.”

Eric Van Wagner, Kyle’s uncle, said he spent Friday evening with his nephew. Kyle Van Wagner told family members he was ready to see his grandfather and his cousin Mike, both of whom are deceased.

But Kyle Van Wagner was happy and smiling the entire time, Eric Van Wagner said.

“You couldn’t talk to them boys and they weren’t happy,” he said.

Brandon Cordwin told his mother that college was busy and he was adjusting to the workload. He was just getting started on his business degree.

“It was a wake-up call when he had to spend all day working on a paper,” Brenda Cordwin said. School always came natural to him.

North Marion High principal Kathy Quelland said the school will observe a moment of silence this morning. She tells each student to buckle up before leaving.

“I just wish kids would get that message,” she said.

When he looks up at the sky, James Van Wagner said he doesn’t ask why.

“I look up and say, ‘Thank you Lord for taking my son from me,’ because He’s the one that makes all the rules,” he said. “And He took this one this time.”

At the crash scene, the Cordwins retrieved their son’s necklace. Now his mother wears his class ring, with a crystal center and National Honors Society engraving, around her neck.

Outside the Cordwin home in Fairfield is a small sign that says the community is with them during their time of tragedy. The Cordwins had them made when other community families lost their sons. Now it stands in remembrance of theirs.

<p>Kyle Van Wagner and Brandon Cordwin came from two different families, but they could have been twins.</p><p>They graduated from North Marion High School in June with honors. They enjoyed mud bogging and saltwater fishing together. They worked hard at their fathers’ businesses and played even harder.</p><p>Now their families and a tight-knit community are mourning and trying to figure out what led to the police pursuit and crash that killed these inseparable friends early Sunday.</p><p>James Van Wagner of Sparr said that although he lost his son, his unwavering faith makes the pain bearable.</p><p>Our faith and love of God is not even in doubt, he said during an interview Monday. We know exactly where he’s at and that’s how we’re going to survive this.</p><p>The two young men, who were students at Santa Fe College, spent Saturday together mud bogging in Palatka with family and friends. As the night wore on, they turned on the University of Florida football game. Both men were Gator fans who hoped to transfer to UF after two years.</p><p>It’s not clear when Van Wagner and Cordwin returned to Marion County, but sheriff’s Deputy Jared Shealy said at around 1 a.m., another deputy called him to report a Camaro driving recklessly on Jacksonville Road.</p><p>According to Shealy’s report and a review of his patrol car’s dashboard camera, here’s what happened next:</p><p>Shealy saw Van Wagner’s black Camaro pull up next to a silver Camaro at Northeast 140th Street and Jacksonville Road.</p><p>The dashboard camera video shows the deputy turning around to stop Van Wagner’s Camaro, which was just in front of the deputy’s patrol car. Van Wagner then backed up and drove away.</p><p>The deputy followed at a distance and the car turned left onto CR 329, running a stop sign in the process.</p><p>After crossing railroad tracks near North Marion High, Van Wagner’s car traveled out of the camera’s sight. Seconds later, the deputy came across two vehicles pulled to the roadside. The deputy spotted a tire rolling across the highway and turned around.</p><p>According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, Van Wagner lost control as he approached those two vehicles, then veered onto the south grass shoulder, where the car crashed into a pole and trees and overturned.</p><p>Neither man was wearing a seatbelt. Both were ejected from the car. Van Wagner was found on the south shoulder of the highway and Cordwin was found in nearby woods.</p><p>Dana Van Wagner, a cousin, said a law officer at the scene told the family that the deputy first noticed the Camaro because it was doing donuts. Neither the patrol nor the Sheriff’s Office could confirm that.</p><p>James Van Wagner said both were good boys. The only ticket Kyle Van Wagner received was for scallop diving without a dive flag.</p><p>I honestly think in his 18 years, he taught more to me than I taught to him, he said. I am forever changed by his presence.</p><p>Eric Van Wagner, Kyle’s uncle, said he spent Friday evening with his nephew. Kyle Van Wagner told family members he was ready to see his grandfather and his cousin Mike, both of whom are deceased.</p><p>But Kyle Van Wagner was happy and smiling the entire time, Eric Van Wagner said.</p><p>You couldn’t talk to them boys and they weren’t happy, he said.</p><p>Brandon Cordwin told his mother that college was busy and he was adjusting to the workload. He was just getting started on his business degree.</p><p>It was a wake-up call when he had to spend all day working on a paper, Brenda Cordwin said. School always came natural to him.</p><p>North Marion High principal Kathy Quelland said the school will observe a moment of silence this morning. She tells each student to buckle up before leaving.</p><p>I just wish kids would get that message, she said.</p><p>When he looks up at the sky, James Van Wagner said he doesn’t ask why.</p><p>I look up and say, Thank you Lord for taking my son from me,’ because He’s the one that makes all the rules, he said. And He took this one this time.</p><p>At the crash scene, the Cordwins retrieved their son’s necklace. Now his mother wears his class ring, with a crystal center and National Honors Society engraving, around her neck.</p><p>Outside the Cordwin home in Fairfield is a small sign that says the community is with them during their time of tragedy. The Cordwins had them made when other community families lost their sons. Now it stands in remembrance of theirs.</p><p>I’ll be lost without him, she said. He did everything for me.</p>